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Oct 8

Resistance Exercise Program Provides Benefit to Breast Cancer Survivors

Exercise Programs Comments Off on Resistance Exercise Program Provides Benefit to Breast Cancer Survivors

As shown in a recent study, 12-week resistance exercise program can significantly improve physical self-esteem, a critical element in a survivors mental fitness and their desire to embrace and maintain physical fitness. The study utilized Thera-Band elastic resistance bands, developed and manufactured by Performance Health.

Akron, OH (PRWEB) October 08, 2012

Dr. Musantis study, published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, looked at the effects of different types of exercise on self-esteem in breast cancer survivors. Forty-two women diagnosed with stage I through III-B breast cancer and who had completed chemotherapy or radiation therapy participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to one of four 12-week, individualized home-based exercise programsflexibility training; aerobic training; Thera-Band resistance training; or aerobic plus Thera-Band resistance training.

We knew that exercise prescription had been linked to improved self-esteem in non-breast cancer populations and hoped our study would result in the same findings plus create heightened awareness of this benefit of exercise, stated Dr. Musanti. Obviously, a woman wants to survive breast cancer, but she also wants to feel good again and that often has to start with her feeling good about herself.

We hypothesized that combining resistance and aerobic training would have a greater effect on physical self-esteem, continued Musanti. However the study showed that resistance training alone increased physical self-esteem more than the combination of resistance and aerobic training. This is good news for those patients who may not have the ability or energy to embrace an aerobic exercise program, or as the first step along the way to a comprehensive exercise program.

Click here to download Dr. Musantis breast cancer exercise protocol.

Each participant was assessed for strength, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, body composition and self-esteem. At the end of 12 weeks, each group demonstrated improvements; in particular, the Thera-Band resistance and combined aerobic and resistance groups significantly increased their upper body strength. The resistance training group also significantly increased their self-esteem; however, the combination of aerobic and resistance training did not provide additional enhancements to self-esteem. In summary, a Thera-Band resistance exercise program is effective in improving both strength and physical self-esteem in breast cancer survivors.

We are grateful to Dr. Musanti for her work on this study, which will help fellow clinicians make evidence-led decisions that ultimately benefit patients, said Dr. Phil Page, Director of Clinical Education and Research for Performance Health. There are countless studies that validate the effectiveness of our Thera-Band resistance products, but its particularly gratifying when our products provide multiple benefits, such as improving both strength and self-esteem, to a group that is so worthy after fighting and succeeding in the battle against cancer. We are also pleased that this news piece falls in October, National Breast Cancer month and hope that it garners greater attention.

Visit the Thera-Band Academy Breast Cancer Resource Center here.

About Rita Musanti, PhD

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Resistance Exercise Program Provides Benefit to Breast Cancer Survivors

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